Thoracic Wall Lecture

Question 1

Feline ribs, TV, St numbers?

Answer 1

13, 13, 8

Question 2

Canine ribs, TV, St numbers?

Answer 2

13, 13, 8

Question 3

Caprine ribs, TV, St numbers?

Answer 3

13, 13, 7

Question 3

Porcine ribs, TV, St numbers?

Answer 3

14, 14, 6

Question 3

Bovine ribs, TV, St numbers?

Answer 3

13, 13, 7

Question 4

What is the importance of the anticlinal vertebra clinically?

Answer 4

imaging

Question 4

Equine ribs, TV, St numbers?

Answer 4

18, 18, 7

Question 5

What is kissing spines? Congenital or acquired? Species? Region? Presentation? Treatment? Preventative measure?

Answer 5

Overriding of dorsal spinous processes
Likely acquired
Horse
T13-T18 (saddle)
Back pain, poor performance
Conservative or surgical (in extreme cases)
proper saddle use

Question 6

What is the general range of sternebrae across species?

Answer 6

6-8

Question 7

What type of joints do sternebrae have? Site for?

Answer 7

Cartilaginous
Bone marrow harvesting

Question 7

What is the landmarks for a cranial abdominal incision?

Answer 7

Xiphoid process

Question 8

Direction of fibers of external intercostal mm.?

Answer 8

Caudoventral

Question 9

Direction of fibers of internal intercostal mm.?

Answer 9

Cranioventral

Question 10

What lies in the caudal margin of the intercostal space of the rib?

Answer 10

vessels/nerves

Question 11

What separated the thoracic/abdominal body cavities?

Answer 11

Diaphragm

Question 12

Describe the thoracic inlet and its boundaries. What does not pass through the inlet? What does?

Answer 12

Cranial opening to the thoracic cavity

Bound by:
T1
1st ribs and their costal cartilage
manubrium of sternum

Spinal cord

Trachea, esophagus, phrenic n.

Question 13

Describe the thoracic outlet and its boundaries.

Answer 13

Caudal opening to the thoracic cavity

Bound by:
Last vertebra
last pair of ribs/costal arch
Xiphoid
Diaphragm

Question 14

What are the visible and palpable features of the thoracic wall?

Answer 14

Last rib
Costal arch
Sternum
Ribs
Intercostal Spaces
Costochondral junctions

Question 15

How to tell the approximate 5th rib position in horses?

Answer 15

Olecranon level with 5th CCJ

Question 16

What can you auscultate on right side of body? Left side?

Answer 16

RIGHT
pulmonary
aortic
mitral valve sounds

LEFT
tricuspid

Question 17

What is an important consideration to arrive at 3rd ICS in horses?

Answer 17

Move the thoracic limb

Question 18

Lung boundaries of cows?

Answer 18

Straight line from top of last rib to olecranon

Question 19

What is thoracentesis?
Approach what side of what?
RIGHT approach
LEFT approach

Answer 19

fluid removal
Always caudal margin of rib
RIGHT- 6th-7th ICS (halfway between elbow and shoulder joints)
LEFT - 7th to 9th ICS (halfway between elbow and shoulder joints)

Question 20

What forms the costal arch?

Answer 20

Continuous line of united costal cartilages

Question 21

What is the costochondral junction?

Answer 21

junction between osseous and cartilaginous rib

Question 22

What is the intercostal space?

Answer 22

Space between adjacent ribs filled with muscles, neurovascular/soft tissues

Question 23

Given the number of ribs present, how many intercostal spaces should there be? Carnivore?

Answer 23

R-1 12

Question 24

The sternebrae are a site of harvesting of what tissue?

Answer 24

bone marrow

Question 25

What is the manubrium? Shape?

Answer 25

first sternebra, Club-like enlargement

Question 26

What is the xiphoid? Shape? Followed by?

Answer 26

last sternebra, flattened, xiphoid cartilage

Question 27

When may we palpate the xiphoid process?

Answer 27

cranial abdominal incision

Question 28

Name three muscles of inspiration on the thoracic wall.

Answer 28

Serratus dorsalis m. Scalenus m. Rectus thoracis m.

Question 29

What intercostal muscle is longer?

Answer 29

Internal

Question 30

Function of external intercostal m.?

Answer 30

Draws ribs together

Question 31

Name the thoracic wall muscle located on the deep ventral aspect of the lateral walls.

Answer 31

Transversus thoracis m.

Question 32

Where do the intercostal nerve and vessels pass in relation to the associated rib?

Answer 32

caudal margin of the rib

Question 33

Name three clinical applications of palpating the external thoracic wall anatomy.

Answer 33

PE, imaging, thoracocentesis, sternal BM aspiration